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Aug 28, 2004 01:25 PM 7577 Views
(Updated Aug 28, 2004 01:25 PM)

Home theatre and audio buffs, mainly new comer?s, invariably add a subwoofer to their systems just because it is a fad to have one installed and also everyone else is doing the same. Not wanting to be left behind they go for it, thinking they will improve their bottom end, little they know that the subwoofer if not properly set up can actually become a boom box.


A properly set up subwoofer can raise the goose bumps, unlike an improper set-up that can help only produce bumps in the audio spectrum. Meaning, the subwoofer creates nothing but boomy(unwanted echoing) effect in the room, a very undesirable trait one can have in a system.


When two speakers are placed in a room they tend to radiate sound in a way that leads to reflections from nearby surfaces which includes wall, furnishing(hard) and also some of the sound is absorbed due to softer furnishings like drapes, padded sofa?s, carpeting and such. All these conditions ideally should be taken into consideration when setting up a system. Dealing with reflections and absorptions; increasing softer furnishing to tame bright sound and increasing harder surfaces to make it lively.


What I am trying to convey here is that two channels requires a lot of effort to get it right, let alone 6 channels which is a major undertaking if one wants to get almost everything right. I say?almost? because there is neither perfect equipment nor perfect setup in existence. There are always compromises; one can try to do the best with available resources.


WHY A SUBWOOFER?


Many serious two-channel listeners tend to stay away from installing subwoofers in their system. Why? Sometimes it is very difficult to seamlessly integrate a subwoofer with the speakers. Generally the best integration is achieved in a single speaker that produces the entire spectrum of sound(based on the capabilities of the speaker in question and from lowest to highest frequency). It is possible to buy a reasonably good speaker below$1000 which produces sound down to 40Hz, the better the quality the higher the price, but it is impossible to buy a reasonably good speaker capable of producing the frequency down to 20Hz below$1000, such speakers cost 10?s of thousands of$.


THE INSPIRATION


I got a call one day(few months back) from a buddy informing me that he had opted for the REL Stantor(the more powerful model in the ST series) that had just been delivered and awaiting installation. I went over and we spent many hours on that Sunday setting up, constantly tweaking and listening to a variety of music. Over the period of a month we had few sessions and finally both agreed that it has integrated well with his Alon Adriana, and Cary tube amps TNT Jr. Turntable and Wadia CD player.


This was the first system where I was extremely pleased with the results of subwoofer integration, never before I had experienced so much satisfaction with a subwoofer in the audio chain.


DECIDING ON REL STRATA III


The ST series starts with the REL Strata III(100 watt amplifier built-in) at a humble$1, 395 and ends with the REL Studio at$10, 000(with a massive 500watt amplifier built-in)! REL are reputed to be very versatile when it comes to integration with speakers. I finally decided to take the plunge and opted for the REL Strata III.


REL sub-bass systems(as REL calls them) are not cheap in comparison to what is available in the market. I have come across some good brands with very high power amplifiers built-in(as much as 500 watts) selling at much lower prices than REL Strata III which is having just a 100 watt power amplifier built-in. Few are aware of the fact that REL sub-bass systems are hand built in the UK and use highest quality components in every subwoofer they built. The entire series uses same quality components whether it is the REL Strata III or their flagship model selling for$10, 000.


All the sub-bass systems in their range have the same fine tuning facilities which can be adjusted from as low as 22 Hz to as high as 96 Hz through the controls provided on the back of the unit. With the two controls provided one can precisely adjust the crossover in 24 discrete steps from 22Hz to 95Hz, this gives great flexibility when pairing it with any speaker be it a small bookshelf or multi-array six feet tall floor standing models.


The Strata?s in-room low frequency extension is specified at 18 Hz(-6 db) and their flagship is capable of going down to bone marrow penetrating 9Hz! All subwoofers have the facility of connecting via the RCA jacks(lo level) direct to subwoofer out on the preamplifier/AV amp or the ideal choice of connecting the subwoofer(hi level) for audio purists, directly from the output of the power amplifier?s speaker out terminals. This is done through the Neutrik Speakon connector(10 meter cable with connector is provided with the unit).


THE SETUP


When I got my new REL Strata III, I did all the connections at the amplifier end, as the wires were connected to another amp which I was running with a passive pre and the interconnect was directly connected on the other end to the CD player. I was sure I made the right connections. When all looked OK we both sat down(my son and I) comfortably in our listening positions and I asked my son to press play on the cd players remote.


BOOOOOOOOOM! BANG! THUD! WROOOOOOM! We jumped in our position trying to run helter-skelter not knowing what and where something went wrong. In confusion we tried to use the remote control of the system to turn down the volume and nothing was happening. So I ran across the room and switched off the mains supply to the whole system. Peace and calm finally prevailed! Phew!


I had to figure out what went wrong. We found out soon that the CD player was actually not connected through the preamp but directly to the power amp which made it produce the sound at full volume meaning 140 watts being pumped to the main speaker and the subwoofer blaring at full volume producing earth shaking bass. Luckily nothing went wrong and all the equipment was safe, but I will never forget this experience for a long time to come. We corrected the anomaly and everything finally was set.


LISTENING SESSIONS


Some of the music I chose to dial in and lock the bass while setting up the system was?Rain? from Madonna?s album Immaculate Collection, Dave Grusin? Migration and Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan and Michael Brook?s album Night Song. These three have sustaining bass lines which is excellent for sub woofer sets. After spending almost 20-30 hours spread over 5 days the system started to sound very much listenable with amazing low frequency extension.


In my case the sub is positioned 3 inches out diagonally from the corner behind the left speaker(the bass is locked here with max loudness). The sub has actually disappeared so to say. The difference is only noticeable when it is switched off, but who would want to switch it off after knowing what is going to be missing!


Most of the music we listen to does not even go any lower than 40Hz as very few acoustic instruments go below this frequency. The double bass goes down to 41.25 Hz, the Harp as low as 33 Hz, finally the piano at 27.5 Hz(only the largest church organ goes down to 16 Hz but is not a common instrument). All the other instruments have lowest frequencies that are higher than the ones mentioned. The movies, however, have a lot of artificial low frequency sounds induced to give that thrilling effect. I listen to music 90 percent of the time and the balance watching Concert DVD's and occasionally movies.


Continued in the comments section.


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